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Dear Noise Project supporter,
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To anyone who has followed the decade-long saga of trying to regulate polluting gas-fueled leafblowers, it should come as no surprise that landscapers who live outside of Providence (and possibly even RI itself) are already attempting to circumvent even the embarrassing “slow walk” ordinance the City Council last year.
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We also objected to how the ordinance was drafted, with Councilmember AnderBois meeting several times with members of the state-wide RI Nursery and Landscaping Association (RINLA), which represents businesses outside of Providence, while saying she couldn’t similarly meet with Noise Project volunteers — who are all PVD residents.
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Ostensibly, her meetings with RINLA were an effort to incorporate their demands in her ordinance. It’s not clear why a municipal legislator drafting a city ordinance was negotiating with people who live outside the city, but it may have something to do with AnderBois’ subsequent announcement that she’s running for Lt. Governor, and thus is seeking donations and votes (and to avoid active opposition) all over the state.
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The landscapers were apparently not negotiating in good faith, as made clear by a newly introduced RI House of Representatives bill (H7150) seeking to preclude RI cities and towns from regulating gas-burning leafblowers. Similar laws have been passed in Republican-majority states such as Georgia and Texas.
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It was introduced by Reps. Brien (I–Smithfield), Fascia (R–Cranston), Hopkins (R–Warwick), Newberry (R–Burrillville), Noret (D–Coventry), Paplauskas (R–Cranston), Place (R–Glocester), Quattrocchi (R–Scituate), Roberts (R–West Greenwich), and Santucci (R–Smithfield).
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Because none of PVD’s current gas-fueled leafblower ordinance comes into effect until 2027, it would be made null and void by the proposed state law if the latter passes before then -- i.e., in the current legislative session that ends in June. That includes its seasonal restrictions and gas-leafblower prohibition in 2033.
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The proposed bill makes clear, however, that it would not prevent Providence from enforcing its current municipal noise limits, which still apply to leafblowers -- except for the fact that the city rarely enforces its own noise laws.
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The RI House Municipal Governance Committee is holding a hearing on Tuesday, Feb. 3, at 4:00 p.m., in Room 135 of the State House on Smith Hill to hear testimony on the bill. Even if you aren’t directly affected by leafblower noise, it’s fundamentally undemocratic for the RI General Assembly to tell cities and towns which sources of pollution they can or can’t regulate -- and state residents need to make that clear.
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We urge Noise Project allies who support regulating leafblower and other sources of pollution to attend the hearing and / or submit written testimony to the Committee by the deadline of 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday (tomorrow) by e-mailing it to clerk Dawn Huntley at HouseMunicipalGovernmentandHousing@rilegislature.gov. Tell them Providence residents oppose unhealthy noise and other toxic emissions from leafblowers, and think they should be regulated just like other sources of pollution.
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Please include your full name in the body of your message, write “Oppose H7150” in the subject line, and cc the Noise Project’s info@ e-mail address. If you have any questions about either Providence’s current leafblower regulation, or the proposed state bill to vacate it, please contact the Noise Project.
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If you’d like to help the Noise Project address excessive noise levels from leafblowers or other sources, please fill out our volunteer intake form. If you prefer to contribute to our efforts in other ways, please contact us and let us know how you’d like to help.
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Thank you for supporting a quieter, healthier, and more sustainable Providence
for all of its residents and visitors!
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“Noise is the New Smoking”
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